Baby poo: what does your baby's black poop mean?
Right after birth, your baby greets the world with its first bowel movement. This stool is black in color and is also called meconium. Meconium has a sticky, tar-like structure and is odorless. Not exactly what you expect from a poo diaper!
Black stools after birth
You may be wondering why your newborn baby is already having a dirty diaper when he hasn't even eaten anything yet. This first, black stool is due to your little one occasionally swallowing some amniotic fluid from the 13th week of your pregnancy. This will help your baby develop his digestive system. The meconium therefore also consists of amniotic fluid, blood residue, mucus and waste products, such as dead cells and intestinal juices. You will usually find this stool in your baby's diaper in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth. This is completely normal and will change on its own once your baby starts breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
Black stools when your baby is a little older
If your baby is a bit older and has black poop, then something else is going on. This black stool is no longer meconium. Iron supplements or iron in formula may be causing your baby's black stools. Iron can sometimes color the stool dark green to almost black. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Isn't this the probable cause? Then it is best to go to the doctor. Black stools can also indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. As it travels through the digestive system, this blood turns from red to black.
Development
Even if it is not always pleasant, it is important to keep an eye on your baby's stools. This way you will learn more about the health and development of your child. Also remember that it is normal for stool consistency, color and frequency to change as your baby develops.
Would you like to read more information about your baby's stools? Then read our blogs:
Orange baby poop
Kabrita goat milk bottle feeding
Did you know that more goat's milk is drunk worldwide than cow's milk? In the Netherlands it is certainly different! Kabrita bottle feeding is a standard bottle feeding, based on goat's milk. Goat's milk is naturally mild and forms a good basis for bottle feeding. Kabrita follow-on milk and Toddler milk combine the mildness of Dutch goat milk with valuable ingredients such as DHA Omega-3 fatty acids* and GOS dietary fibre. That makes Kabrita a suitable choice for babies and toddlers.
Are you curious about our baby food based on goat's milk? Go to our webshop and order directly online!